Is it normal to keep the umbilical cord?
Mostly.Normal for most people
Yes, some parents keep the dried umbilical cord stump as a keepsake, while others throw it away. It’s a personal choice, and neither option is strange.
If you mean the small dried stump that falls off your newborn’s belly button, keeping it is a pretty common sentimental choice. Some parents tuck it into a baby book or memory box; others would rather not hang on to it, which is just as normal.
If you keep it, make sure it’s fully dry and store it somewhere clean and sealed. There’s no special meaning you have to attach to it—it’s just one of those odd little souvenirs of having a baby.